Political analysts said immigration and the war in Iraq would be the most important topics to Republican primary voters.
A majority of Americans feel immigration is an issue that needs to be addressed, said Bill Ballenger, an American government professor at Central Michigan University and editor and publisher of the Lansing-based newsletter Inside Michigan Politics.
"The question is not how far we go, but what we do about the 12-20 million that are already in the country," he said.
The only candidate with a solid immigration record is Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. He co-sponsored a controversial U.S. Senate bill - one that President Bush supports - which would offer legal status to immigrants in the country. It also would tighten border security.
The only thing that voters know for certain is most of the other candidates oppose the bill, Ballenger said.
"They're all over the map on how to deal with it," he said. "At least the Senate bill is tangible."
The other key issue candidates will flesh out until the caucuses early next year is the war in Iraq.
Democrats have the opportunity to step back and criticize the war, while Republicans must be careful when discussing the subject, said Paul Abramson, a national elections and voter turnout expert and political science professor.
It would be difficult to criticize the way the war has been conducted without criticizing the president, Abramson said.
The candidates also have to consider how the majority of Republican voters feel about the war in Iraq, Ballenger said.
"Most Republicans support the war, or at least don't support withdrawal or timelines," he said.
Candidates will comment on the war, but ultimately will agree the United States should have invaded Iraq and Saddam Hussein had to be removed, Ballenger said. Having the debates this early doesn't have much of an impact on voters, he added.
"Certain candidates may ratchet up their profile and degree of prominence, and earn points with voters," Ballenger said, adding that the long-term effect of the debates will be nil.
The Republican debate would gain the same amount of interest to students as the Democratic one, Abramson said.
"If there was a draft, the war would be an issue of special relevance," he said. "But since there isn't, I don't think it's of any more relevance to students than it is to the general population."
Gauging the effect of the debates on students is tough, said Steve Mitchell, chairman of the Lansing-based Mitchell Research & Communications Inc.
Draft or not, there is a feeling students feel apathetic toward national politics, Mitchell said.
"If young people were involved in politics, then politicians would deal with issues that are important to young people," he said.
Not every young voter feels their voice should fall on deaf ears.
"I've voted in most of the elections since I've been of age," said Nick Stumpos, a computer science senior. "If you look at the majority of people voting, it's going to be upper-middle class white males and females.
"That's where the major vote comes from."
Sam Brownback
Kansas Senator
Age: 51
Top Priority: border security
Jim Gilmore
Former Virginia Governor
Age: 57
Top Priority: stopping illegal immigration
Rudy Giuliani
Former mayor of New York City
Age: 63
Top Priority: improving national security, continuing to fight the war on terrorism
Mike Huckabee
Former Arkansas Governor
Age: 51
Top Priority: making America energy independent within 10 years
Duncan Hunter
California congressman
Age: 59
Top Priority: border security, fighting the war on terror
John McCain
Arizona senator
Age: 70
Top Priority: immigration reform, securing the border
Ron Paul
Texas Congressman
Age: 71
Top Priority: getting tough on oil companies to lower costs at the pump
Mitt Romney
Former Massachusetts Governor
Age: 60
Top Priority: ensuring trade laws are fair in order to remain competitive in Asia
Tom Tancredo
Colorado Congressman
Age: 61
Top Priority: ending immigration, legal or illegal; securing the borders
Tommy Thompson
Former Governor of Wisconsin
Age: 65
Top Priority: health care reform
